Reviewed by Roberta
TITLE: Broken Phoenix
AUTHOR: Edmond Manning
LENGTH: 33,367 words
Story Photo:
Photo 1: A shirtless, slender man with hard-taut muscles gazes thoughtfully ahead. Around him, singed and burned feathers waft to the ground. His short red hair either burns with orange-dancing flames or perhaps catches the raw yellow sunlight, giving him a fire-roasted appearance. His raw sensuality simmers, as if the air around him is charged with electricity and yet refuses to ignite into passion.
Photo 2: A tranquil, lavender-shirted man holds a book in his right hand and a lantern in his left. He’s young, mid-twenties, a thin man. His tight black pants and elegant dress shirt convey a sense of timeless style. Pages seem to leave the book and fly away, as if magically lifted by the wind. Despite the floating pages and the bruised blues and greens in the dangerous sky before him, the man with raven hair and a dark purple streak remains calm, absorbed. Around him, delicate flowers blossom with long, curled petals, as delicate and strong as this man himself.
STORY LETTER:
Dear Author,
I’m a phoenix (pic 1). Unfortunately, I’m a pretty terrible phoenix. I can’t seem to control my fire. I lose my feathers (I could give you my father’s lecture on that word for word, I’ve heard it so many times). And worst of all, my tears don’t heal. I’ve pretty much been a hermit since my clan kicked me out ten years ago.
The other day this man came to my cave claiming he needed a phoenix to help him with his quest. I was so startled I lit half my clothes on fire and scared him away. I can see him climbing the trail towards my cave again. What in the world does he want?
Pic 2 is the third undersecretary to the royal historian (or some similar underling position within the royal court) and discovered something he shouldn’t have. He can’t tell anyone or he will be killed so he has to fix it all on his own…except maybe for the help of one hermit phoenix.
I prefer plot to sex (rather have no sex than be overwhelmed by it) and I’m pretty vanilla when it comes to that sex. I absolutely hate stories where the major conflict is a “Big Misunderstanding” between the MC’s or stories where the MC’s just can’t be together for some “Big Reason.” Other than that have fun. Feel free to alter the basic appearance of the MC’s― it is more the feel of the pics that I care about than hair color/eye color/build/etc.
Thanks!
Kathleen
REVIEW:
What a sweet story about learning your potential and falling in love.
Gio is a broken Phoenix. He’s been banished from his tribe as he’s gotten older and has never blazed. He’s been on his own for 10 years and he’s created a pretty good life for himself. Gio doesn’t wish for much, just the chance to finally blaze and to see his father and brother again. Gio has such a great heart.
Edgar is a human that was inadvertently taken from Earth and brought to this new planet. He’s a foreigner that means others see him as less. He’s an under-under-undersecretary and he reads. Horrors Of All Horrors!! Edgar realizes that the world is dying and he is trying to save it. He enlists Gio’s help and even though he’s not really thought it out, ends up falling for him. Edgar is this really sweet guy. He’s lived there for 20 years and he’s adapted to life there. Edgar is kind and sweet and loving. Trying to do the right thing for everyone even knowing that he’s seen as less than. Edgar has such honor and integrity.
This was such a sweet story. There was a bit of adventure. I mean, saving the planet?! I really liked when Gio and Edgar to Earth and Gio got to see where Edgar came from and all the wonders there. He also got a taste of what people do when they are scared of something that they know nothing about. I loved that going back to this tribe and helping them to save the planet. This story is fun and a bit thrilling.
So, get ready to read a really sweet, romantic story about learning that you are more than you thought and about falling in love.
Brought to you by the Goodreads M/M romance group’s Love’s Landscapes writing event 2014. It’s free, people, follow the link.
RATING: 
STORY LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1845142-broken-phoenix-by-edmond-manning-6-1